Submitted by 6flightsup t3_z9036z in baltimore
Comments
6flightsup OP t1_iyelxqs wrote
Good to know. I’ll look into it. Probably doesn’t warrant the time off of work, but it would be great to stick it to the man!
lexabear t1_iyf2xg1 wrote
I recently contested a ticket and the court proceeding was over Zoom. This was as of August.
I was one of the last people in the docket so got to see a lot of other people's cases. Something like this, where there was a legitimate issue with the signage, the judge would throw out entirely.
Look at the picture the meter reader took (you should be able to view this online - check the instructions on the ticket) and it might show the sign, depending where your car was. If you contest the ticket, there's an opportunity to upload a picture, where you can put this photo too. The judge will look at the picture the meter reader sent along with any pictures you present.
Since there obviously is a sign, and it says something about parking, I can't say for certain that yours will definitely get thrown out. But the judge definitely did not like Baltimore City's parking enforcement and threw out a lot of tickets.
Basically anything that didn't have a legit excuse was reduced to $50 total with absolutely any excuse, including "oops, I didn't mean to". (Which was mine, TBF.) (Except handicapped parking issues because those are way more expensive.)
6flightsup OP t1_iyf40bl wrote
Thanks for the advice. The meter reader’s picture would be a stronger case of the sign is in it.
Dr_Midnight t1_iyeiep1 wrote
The state and position of signage here is becoming increasingly problematic. Some are obscured by foliage. Some are obscured because Work Vans, Trucks and SUVs have gotten so big that you can't see them. As an example, I've nearly run intersections in the city because I couldn't see the STOP signs obscured behind them.
I got ticketed once in Fell's because the parking rules had been changed with an addendum that was posted - and I can't exaggerate this - barely one (1) foot off the ground on the pole that no reasonable person would've looked at.
z3mcs t1_iye97my wrote
I mean it's old and worn down, but it's there. It's like Baltimore itself. What's more annoying to me is that you can't just go online and pay it.
RL_Mutt t1_iyedqbd wrote
Did you get ticketed?
I’m very proud that I once got a ticket in NYC for parking in a school zone in the middle of summer and I argued it and had it dismissed.
6flightsup OP t1_iyem61t wrote
Back to add yes.
RL_Mutt t1_iyemhq2 wrote
Yeah, I would go ahead and fight it. I’d say you have a fair chance of having it dismissed.
Bonzi777 t1_iyekttw wrote
There’s a bunch of “no right turn on red… on school days” signs in my neighborhood, and I’m actually really curious how dialed in the cops are to the school schedule.
6flightsup OP t1_iyem0zi wrote
Great stuff!
sgrpa t1_iyf0cnd wrote
Challenge it. Once I got a ticket, they said my car had 4 doors but only had 2 so they had to dismiss it. Judges don't care much about traffic issues, it's the city that cares much more about its revenue.
sportsDude t1_iyf7ytq wrote
They say that if the sign was blocked you can win a ticket. Like if you’re on the highway and the sign is blocked by trees so you couldn’t see that change in speed and get pulled over, you could argue that you didn’t see the sign and win. Could but unsure how likely.
edcod1 t1_iyekg7d wrote
Baltimore really likes to do shit like this.
CrabEnthusist t1_iyegjm2 wrote
If you have the time, contest the ticket. Judges don't enjoy dealing with parking disputes and will usually let you off if you have a half decent reason, and this picture probably counts.